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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDesignation of City Clerks Office as a Passport Acceptance F o - C+ Cle4k. Trr'P��nri _ 7 vr+e�J CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEAR �"en'- r�c�ec��.s�'>/� /6 _Sdla-k. MEETING DATE: June 21, 1999 DEPARTMENT ID N ER: CK99-002 Council/Agency Meeting Held: 917 loo•10 VDe erred/Continued to: Approved 7- Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied _66P�T City Clerk's Signature Council Meeting Date: June 21, 1999 Department ID Number: CK99-002 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBMITTED BY: CONNIE BROCKWAY, CITY CLERKC13 w PREPARED BY: CONNIE BROCKWAY, CITY CLERK.-A > SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AS A PASSPQRT w; ACCEPTANCE FACILITY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF'ST&E fstemntf Issue,Funding Source,Recommended Action,Alternative Action(s),Analysis,Environmental Status,Attachment(s) Statement of Issue: The City Clerk is requesting City Council approval for the City Clerk's Office to accept the designation of Passport Acceptance Facility by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Funding Source: Start-up costs will be requested in the City Clerk's Office FY1999-2000 budget submittal: Clerk position (nonpermanent) $16,640 Postage cost $800 Electronic Counter System $400 (to be purchased locally) One-time start-up costs required by the City Treasurer's Office to process these additional transactions: Cash receipting software and hardware $8,000 Cash security hardware (i.e., cash drawer) $2,000 (This software/hardware may also be used to process additional transactions as activities increase in other departments.) Total: $27,840 ,, CK99002 -2- 06/10/99 8:13 AM • � REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION MEETING DATE: June 21, 1999 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: CK99-002 First year anticipated revenue: $39,000 - $45,000 Recommended Action: 1. Authorize the City Clerk to inform the Passport Agency of the U.S. Department of State that the City Council approves the City Clerk's Office becoming a Passport Acceptance Facility authorized by the United States Department of State beginning October, 1999. 2. Authorize an expenditure of $10,400 from the General Fund Unappropriated Fund Balance to purchase the necessary software/hardware for the Treasurer's Office and the electronic counter system equipment for the Clerk's Office. Alternative Action(s): 1. The City Council may designate a different city department to provide passport services. 2. Continue item for further study. 3. Determine that passport program should not be implemented. Analysis: There are significant benefits in becoming a passport acceptance facility including: 1. Community Service - There are only eight passport acceptance facilities in Orange County. Passport acceptance service at the City Clerk's Office will provide a location in addition to the Warner Post Office location for residents to easily and conveniently obtain passport application forms and submit passport applications. 2. Generates Revenue - The average time spent in accepting a passport application is approximately ten minutes. For each passport application accepted, a $15.00 processing fee is collected which the City of Huntington Beach retains. Barbara Brophy, Customer Service Manager, Department of State Regional Passport Office in Los Angeles, estimates that approximately 2,600 - 3,000 applications during the first year's operation would be processed by the City Clerk's Office if appropriate publicity of the service is provided by the city. 3. Community Economic Impact - Efforts to market this new service: A recorded information line will be established; FAX on demand forms; forms available on the Internet; Internet link to the Los Angeles Passport Office; Cable TV-3; brochures offering this service to be made available at local travel agencies. Attracting people from surrounding communities to obtain passport services at City Hall may also have a positive impact on Huntington Beach's economy as passport customers may decide to patronize other businesses while in our city. CK99002 -3- 06/09/99 3:42 PM 0 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTS MEETING DATE: June 21, 1999 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: CK99-002 4. Promotes Public Relations - Passport acceptance facilities provide a vital service to U.S. citizens - the voters and taxpayers of our community. Offering passport services at the Clerk's Office helps promote the other services and opportunities available to the public at City Hall. If the City of Huntington Beach is approved as a passport acceptance facility, this service would begin at City Hall in October, 1999 following employee training classes by the Department of State, Los Angeles Regional Passport Office. Hours of operation would be at the city's discretion and most likely would be Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conformance With Established City Counicl Criteria For Unbudgeted Appropriations: This requested budget appropriation meets the criteria established by Council in that it is a new expense that will be offset by related new revenues. Deferring the equipment purchase until the adoption of the budget would delay the start of the passport program. Environmental Status: N/A Attachment(s): City Clerk's . . - Number No. Description 1. Detailed Information Proposed Passport Acceptance Facility City Clerk's Office, City of Huntington Beach submitted by the City Clerk 2. Communication from the Los Angeles Passport Agency Steps for Designation as a Passport Acceptance Facility 3. Communication from the Los Angeles Passport Agency dated January, 1998 titled The Basics 4. Fiscal Impact Statement RCA: CB CK99002 -4- 06/10/99 8:18 AM ATTACHMENT 1 0 0 PROPOSED PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE FACILITY CITY CLERK'S OFFICE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 1. Authority: The authority to act as a passport acceptance agent is provided under Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Part 51. 2. Proposed Start Date for Passport Acceptance Facility located in the City Clerk's Office, City of Huntington Beach: October, 1999 3. Proposed Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except holidays 4. Proposed Site: City Clerk's Office 5. Services to be provided by the City Clerk's Office: • Provide designated area in the City Clerk's Office for receiving passport applications. • Have a minimum of five staff members trained to accept passport applications. • Establish telephone recorded information line for passport inquiries, Fax on Demand Forms, Forms available on Internet. • Examine passport application and ensure it is completed in full by the applicant. • Screen the citizenship evidence and photographs for acceptability. • Record the identification fully and accurately. • Collect the required fees and make sure the check or money order is in the correct amount and payable to the Passport Service. • Execute the application by having the applicant swear or affirm as to the truth of the statements given and witness the applicant's signature on the application. • Sign the application and place the authorized seal of the acceptance facility in the execution section of the application. • Ensure that passport applications are transmitted to the passport agency on a daily basis. 6. Service Area Population: It is anticipated that service area will reach beyond the city limits as the nearest passport acceptance facility is located at the Warner Post Office which is extremely busy. The hours of the City Clerk's Office Passport Acceptance Facility will overlap the hours at the Warner Post Office. In addition to providing an additional passport facility location in Huntington Beach, the Passport Facility will attract customers from Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Costa Mesa. There are only eight (8) passport facilities in Orange County. 7. Fees to be Charged: Service Fee Paid to Passport fee $45 (age 16 & over) State Department Passport fee $25 (age 15 & under) State Department Processing Fee $15 (any age) City of Huntington Beach Expedite fee $35 State Department Renewal fee $40 State Department cbmemo/99-91 ST.doc 8. Start-up Costs: Part Time Clerk Range 241 $8.05 per hour= approximately $1288/month Numbering System $397.70 (purchased through company located in Huntington Beach $800 annual postage costs 9. Anticipated Revenues to the City of Huntington Beach in FY 99-2000: (based on conservative estimate of processing an average of 10 applications per day) 10 applications x $15 processing fee = $150.00/day = $36,000 cbmemo/99-91 ST.doc ATTACHMENT 21, 05/25/99 TUF 16:30 FAX 310 5755729 LA PASSPORT AGCY Z 003 • Steps for Designation as a Passport Acceptance Facility Request must be submitted in writing under the signature of the official authorized to seek designation by the government entity. The request should include: 1 . The location of the office 2. Proposed hours passport acceptance service will be provided 3. Telephone number for public information (If a separate telephone line is to be installed for this purpose, indicate that this will be furnished when available.) 4. Name and title of official who will be responsible for program (Program Manager) 5. What duties the office now performs 6. Demographics of service area (i.e., Population, surrounding communities) 7. Proposed start date, if known. 8. Names and sample signatures of employees who will provide passport application acceptance service. When a request for designation is received, it will be forwarded to Passport Services in Washington, DC along with a recommendation for approval. When possible, a visit to the prospective acceptance facility will be arranged prior to the forwarding of the recommendation. Designation process usually can be completed within 2 months. Scheduling of training and shipment of supplies will be arranged after designation becomes effective. Qualifications for Employees to be Designated as Passport Acceptance Agents* 1. Must be at least 18 years old and a United States citizen. 2. Must be an employee of a municipal, county or state government office or entity or the U.S. Postal Service. Contract employees, volunteers, or other personnel who are not on direct payroll cannot be designated passport acceptance agents. Designated employee must be directly accountable to the government entity. 3. Be free of any federal or state felony convictions within the last 5 years. 4. Never have been convicted of a federal or state felony relating to breach of trust or moral turpitude, i.e., embezzlement, document fraud, drug offense, or dishonesty in carrying out a responsibility involving public trust. 5. Not be on parole or probation relating to any federal or state convictions. 6. Must be able to communicate clearly to U.S. citizens who are passport applicants. Language skills other than Fnglish are not required. ♦ All designees must be approved in advance by the Department of State. Ppt/la/csm/2/99 ATTACHMENT 3 11 THE BASICS A United States passport is a travel document attesting to the citizenship and identity of the bearer. Only United'States citizens can be issued a U.S. passport. Remember that United States passports are issued only to U. S. citizens. A person with an alien registration card is not a U.S. citizen and is not entitled to a U.S. passport. To obtain a U. S. passport an applicant must present the following items: 1. PROOF OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP OR NATIONALITY a. IF BORN IN THE UNITED STATES -- A person claiming to be born in the U. S. must submit primary proof of citizenship. 1. Previous U. S. passport 2. Certified copy of birth certificate showing: a. Name, date and place of birth b. Date birth record was filed or recorded (If filed more than one year after birth must also list evidence used to file it.) c. Seal and signature of registrar If birth certificate never filed, submit following secondary evidence: a. Letter no record from state where born b. Early public record verifying name, date and place of birth (i.e., childhood school, baptismal, or census record) c. Notarized birth affidavit (optional) b. IF BORN IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY -- A person born in a foreign country must submit proof of how U. S. citizenship was acquired. 1. Previous U. S. passport 2. Original certificate of naturalization or citizenship 3. Proof of derivative citizenship 2. PROOF OF IDENTITY a. Primary proof of identity 1. Current driver's license (valid or recently expired within 6 months) 2. Recently issued certificate of naturalization 3. Recently issued government ID card b. If unable to present acceptable primary proof, note down or copy whatever he/she has and have applicant appear before you with an identifying witness (DSP-71) 3. PHOTOGRAPHS -- Two identical, 2" x 2" square, full faced with plain white or off-white background. (See back of DSP-11 or Passport Manual) 4. PASSPORT FEE -- On DSP-11, Age 16 and older (10 year passport) --- $60.00 Under age 16 (5 year passport) --- --- $40.00 "EXPEDITE FEE" Service --- --- additional $35.00 PPT/LA:csm-1/98 ATTACHMENT 4 0 • � CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 1 INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICA TION To: Ray Silver, City Administrator From: John Reekstin, Director of Administrative Services Subject: FIS 98-43 Designation of City Clerk's Office as a Passport Acceptance Facility Date: June 9, 1999 As required by Resolution 4832, this Fiscal Impact Statement has been prepared for "Designation of City Clerk's Office as a Passport Acceptance Facility ." If the City Council approves this action, (total appropriation $10,400), the estimated unappropriated, undesignated General Fund Balance at September 30 , 1999 will be reduced to $7,660,001 . 1A - -a J'hn Reekstin, Director of Administrative Services Adopted urrent Fund Balance-General Fund Budget Estimate Beginning Fund Balance 10/1/98(unaudited) $ 8,987,000 $ 8,987,000 Plus: Estimated Revenue 107,860,642 109,524,481 Less: Estimated Expenditures (109,890,397) (109,399,000) Less Pending/Approved FIS's (1,442,080) Less: FIS 99-43 - (10,400) Estimated 9/30/99 Balance $ 6,957,245 $ 7,660,001 Estimated General Fund Balance at September 30, 1999 $9,000,000 I $8,000,000 ---j ---- $7,000,000 - - -_- - $6,000,000 --- -- ---------- $5,000,000 --- _ -- - - $4,000,000 -- $6,957,245 --- - $3,000,000 $7,660,001 $2,000,000 ._.. - ---_-_ -- $1,000,000 $. ADOPTED BUDGET CURRENT ESTIMATE